By Aderonke Ojo
A board member of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF), Chinedu Odozor Onikeku, has called on newly certified beach volleyball coaches to go beyond obtaining certificates and focus on producing athletes who will become champions for Nigeria.
She made the call on Saturday in Abuja during the closing ceremony of the Olympic Solidarity Beach Volleyball Coaching Course, where 19 out of 25 participants successfully completed the training.
Onikeku expressed pride in the performance of the participants, describing the outcome as impressive and a sign of progress for the federation.
“I am so proud of them. Out of 25 participants, 19 passed — that’s a very good result,” he said. “My prayer for them is not just to get the certificate. Many may have come for that, but what we really want is for them to go out and produce champions.”
She explained that the objective of the course went beyond paper qualifications, stressing the need for the new coaches to contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s performance in international competitions.
“We want coaches who will raise athletes that can represent Nigeria at the African Games, Commonwealth Games, and Youth Games. That is why this course was organized,” she said.
While acknowledging the challenges of limited beach volleyball infrastructure across the country, Mr. Onikeku encouraged the participants to be innovative and determined.
“Most of them might not have beach courts in their areas, but we will improvise. We are Nigerians — we know how to find a way around challenges. What matters is that we produce champions,” he added.
The NVBF board member emphasized that the federation remains committed to developing the sport at all levels and ensuring that the new coaches become part of the national talent development structure.
“We don’t want to look back and say we don’t have beach coaches or players. With this course, we now have a stronger foundation to build on,” she concluded.
The Olympic Solidarity Beach Volleyball Coaching Course, supported by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is designed to equip national coaches with the technical knowledge and practical skills required to nurture athletes capable of competing on the continental and global stage.
The five-day intensive course, powered by Olympic Solidarity, began on November 4, 2025, and concluded on November 9, 2025, in Abuja, featured 25 participants drawn from across the country including coaches, referees, and technical officials all eager to enhance their expertise in beach volleyball.
The programme is part of a global Olympic initiative aimed at equipping national federations with modern coaching techniques and methodologies in preparation for upcoming international competitions, notably the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.